What is a Universal Donor? (with pictures) What is a Universal Donor? Last Modified Date: 30 November 2016 Copyright Protected: Can you see through these real-life optical illusions? A universal donor is someone who can donate blood to anyone else, with a few rare exceptions. People with the O- blood type have traditionally been considered universal blood cell donors. Conversely, a universal recipient can safely take blood from anyone, again with a few exceptions. People with AB+ blood have been considered universal recipients. Historically, universal donors are determined on the basis of the ABO blood typing system. Under this system, people can be divided into four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Blood type is determined by the antigens present on the blood cells. In the case of people with A blood, A antigens are present. B blood types have B antigens, AB blood types have both, and O types have no antigens. Some people refer to the O group as the "null" or 0 group, referencing the fact that no antigens are present.

If someone with an A blood type is given blood from a B donor, the recipient's blood will react with the antigens on the B blood cells, rejecting the transfusion and triggering a transfusion reaction. O blood, however, can be given to someone with an A blood type, because there are no antigens in the donor blood to react with the recipient's body. Things get a bit more complicated than that, as the "+" and "-" symbols people are probably used to seeing after blood types would suggest. The ABO blood typing system can be further classified with the use of the Rhesus blood group system. Blood types under this system are determined by testing for A and B antigens, and looking for something called the Rhesus or Rh factor. If the Rh factor is present, the blood is "positive," and if it is not, the blood is "negative." When the two systems are combined, there are a plethora of blood types: A-, A+, B-, B+, AB-, AB+, O-, and O+. This complicates matters, because the presence of the Rh factor can cause a transfusion reaction in someone with a negative blood type.

This makes it unsafe, for example, for B+ blood to be transfused into a B- recipient. In emergency situations, patients may be given O- blood; however, this is not ideal. The best blood for a person to receive is an exact match for both type and Rhesus factor . This is because of the presence of antibodies and other antigens in the blood, which can cause dangerous reactions. Doctors perform a test called crossmatching to determine if the donor blood is compatible with the recipient. Many blood banks like to stock as much blood from universal donors as they can. In an emergency situation where blood transfusions are urgently needed, O negative blood cells can be safely given to most patients. As a result, being identified as a universal donor can make someone very popular with a local blood bank . In addition to universal blood cell donors, there are people who are universal blood plasma donors. Antibodies are found in blood plasma , and are the opposite of the blood type. Someone with type A blood has B antibodies in his or her plasma. Type AB blood plasma has no antibodies, and therefore can safely be donated to anyone. There are a few cases in which blood from a universal donor can be dangerous.

Some rare blood types fall outside the ABO system, and these blood types can react with O negative blood. For people with these blood types, it is a good idea to carry a medical information card clearly indicating this, as otherwise blood from a universal donor may be transfused under the assumption that it will be safe. Ad anon937895 Post 21 Is it true that type AB blood can be donated to anyone, as stipulated in your statement above? anon307135 Post 19 Is it a good idea to donate AB+ blood if it can't be accepted by blood types other than its own? anon234929 Post 17 Why is type AB the universal recipient when they cannot receive any blood types? They can only receive the same blood type, but not any other blood type. anon230032 I'm an o- person. Will my body accept the o+ blood? amypollick Post 14 @Anon96345: Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and your mother's surgeon can give you a definitive answer.

My supposition is that someone with AB+ blood can receive any blood type, true, but this is more for emergency situations, and is not ideal. Say, if someone who is AB+ were in an automobile accident and needed blood, then the ER could use whatever the blood bank had on hand to save the person's life. However, it is always more desirable to use blood the same type as the patient's. Would your mother be eligible for an autologous blood transfusion? That's when the patient goes in several times before surgery to donate a pint or so of their own blood, which the doctor or hospital banks for that patient's use during surgery. This is becoming a more common procedure. Might be worth asking the surgeon. anon96345 Post 13 With regard to this statement: "Conversely, a universal recipient can safely take blood from anyone, again with a few rare exceptions. People with AB+ blood are considered universal recipients." My mother is law who is AB+ and needs to undergo surgery for acoustic neuroma. Doctors have said that she should have an AB+ donor. Does this mean that during a surgery, the universal recipient clause does not work.

anon87500 Post 12 Me and my mother both are O+ but my supposedly father is O-. Is he my father? anon87149 Post 11 Two O positive parents *can* have a child who is O negative! My youngest sister is and she is the only one. The negative can come in from somewhere farther back in the family as a recessive gene that was strong enough to break through. Both my parents are O positive as are my older sister and I *but* my youngest sister is O negative due to a recessive negative gene on my mom's side of the family. anon85103 Does the blood group change from birth to any age? anon61528 Post 9 amypollick,I used to think the same thing. That whatever blood type someone is that's what they stay. It is usually true but I actually know somebody whose blood type has changed three times since her birth. amypollick Post 8 Anon49833.

I don't know about how often you can give certain blood types to patients, since I am not a doctor or nurse, but I do know that someone who has any type of blood is born that type and will die that type, regardless of what kind of blood he/she receives. Blood, as I understand it, is produced in the bone marrow, so a blood transfusion is not going to change blood type. I do know that a successful bone marrow transplant from a donor with a different blood type can change a person's blood type, but as far as I know, that's about the only thing that can. Of course, someone who is an expert in this field may certainly correct me if I'm wrong. anon49833 Post 7 all this stuff so far is 'OK' with my knowledge. but i have a scenario, guide me there. Patient is AB +VE, he/she can receive any blood, for example on a day in October he/she receives A+VE (because he/she can receive any group as he/she is universal recipient. after a few days, 10 days for example, can we give B+VE to the same patient (AB+VE) who has received A+VE a few days ago?

in short, will an AB+VE patient still remain a universal recipient after receiving A+VE or B+VE? anon42564 Why ab group blood cannot be donated to group a and group b? anon39176 Post 4 can an o postitive and an o positive make an o negative if the mother had a blood tranfusion in childhood? she had five kids who are supposed to have the the same dad but only one which is the last one has o negative, could this kid be for someone else or is it possible this man fathered it too? anon39115 Is it possible for a 0+ couple to have a A+ baby? jade01 What Is the Universal Recipient Blood Type? What Is the Universal Recipient Blood Type? Search the site What Is the Universal Recipient Blood Type? Understanding Universal Donors and Recipients By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C - Reviewed by a board-certified physician. Updated June 22, 2016 Question: What is a Universal Recipient? What is a universal recipient? I've heard of a universal donor , but I am not familiar with a universal recipient.

Answer: A universal recipient is a medical term for a person with the AB blood type. They are called universal recipients because they can receive a blood transfusion from a person with any blood type , not just their own blood type. To put it another way, the immune system of a person with AB blood will accept blood from all possible donors, whether they have O, A, B or AB blood. So how is it that the rarest blood type is also the one that is a universal recipient? The answer lies in the antigens that are present in most blood types . O blood types are unique in that they have no antigens, A blood types have an antigen that is specific and unique to A blood, as do B blood types. The AB blood type means that the both of antigens for A and B blood are both present. Since both A and B antigens are present in a person with AB blood, the recipient won't reject the blood. The body identifies that blood as "self" rather than "foreign". O blood has no antigens, and is referred to as universal donor blood, so that will not cause a reaction.

So a person with AB blood has all of the antigens that are possible, and an O negative person has no antigens that would cause a reaction. Reaction to a Blood Transfusion Keep in mind that there is a difference between a reaction caused by transfusing the wrong type of blood, which can be and often is fatal, and an allergic reaction to the blood transfusion, which is possible regardless of blood type. An allergic reaction to a blood transfusion is not caused by a blood type mismatch, it is caused by the recipient's body identifying the blood as "foreign" and the immune system then attempts to destroy the foreign cells. Also known as an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, this type of reaction typically results in itching, fever, chills, itching and a rash. It typically passes in 24-48 hours and is usually treated by stopping the transfusion and administering a dose of Benadryl to reduce the reaction. Organ Donation and Universal Recipients Receiving a blood transfusion is not the only time this information matters. An individual who needs an organ transplant could also benefit from being a universal recipient. If a patient has the AB blood type and needs an organ, they could accept an organ from donors of all blood types.

The process of matching a donor and recipient is more complicated than that, as there are other reasons a donor and recipient may not be compatible, but, generally speaking, a person with the AB blood type can receive an organ from a donor of any blood type. Sources: 50 Quick Facts. The American Red Cross. Accessed October, 2010. Continue Reading Programs for Donor/Recipient Pairs with Incompatible Blood Types - The National Kidney Foundation Programs for Donor/Recipient Pairs with Incompatible Blood Types Paired Exchange Programs Sometimes a loved one may want to donate a kidney but their blood type is incompatible. Some transplant centers will help incompatible pairs of recipient/donors through a process called paired exchange, which involves two living donors and two recipients. If the recipient from one pair is compatible with the donor from the other pair, and vice versa– the transplant center may arrange for a "swap"–for two simultaneous transplants to take place. This allows two transplant candidates to receive organs and two donors to give organs though the original recipient/donor pairs were unable to do so with each other.

Figure 1: In paired exchange, an incompatible donor/ recipient pair (such as a mother and son that don't have compatible blood types) are matched with another incompatible donor/recipient pair for a "swap". Each donor gives a kidney to the other person's intended recipient. Both donors and candidates are carefully evaluated and tested medically and psychologically to assure that the benefits outweigh the risks. It is important for both surgeries to be scheduled for the same time in case either donor changes their mind at the time of surgery. Surgeries can take place at the same or different hospitals. It can be advantageous if the surgeries take place at the same hospital though this may mean extra costs of travel and housing for one couple. Never Ending Altruistic Donor (NEAD) chain A NEAD™ chain (Never Ending Altruistic Donor chain) begins with one non-directed (altruistic) potential donor. In this program, the non-directed donor gives to a person waiting for a transplant, and that recipient's willing – but incompatible – donor gives to another person waiting, and so on. Each living donor in this system gives to a stranger, and the chain of donors is kept going as long as possible.

Figure 2: In A NEAD™ chain, a non-directed potential donor is matched up with a recipient who has a willing, but incompatible donor. Then that recipient's incompatible donor then gives to another incompatible pair, and so on. For More Information If you are interested in one of these exchange programs: Talk with your transplant hospital. If you're already working with a transplant hospital: Talk to them about your options. Ask them if any of these programs are an option for your situation, and if so, does that hospital offer them? If not: contact transplant hospitals (in the recipient's area) to ask. To find a transplant center in your area click here . Select "transplant center by organ," then select "kidney," and then select your state. Contact a transplant hospital that has an exchange program. It's always a good idea to check with your transplant hospital, or hospitals nearby. Contact other organizations which might help. Following are links to other organizations which help to facilitate exchanges.(Note: these organizations and their websites are not under the control of the NKF, and NKF assumes no responsibility for their content or services.

These links are provided for information purposes only, and should not be considered an endorsement or recommendation by the National Kidney Foundation.) OPTN/UNOS Kidney Paired Donation Program The vision of the OPTN/UNOS Kidney Paired Donation Program is that every kidney transplant candidate with an incompatible but willing and approved living donor receives a living donor kidney transplant. The mission is to develop a successful Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) program with universal access to all UNOS/OPTN members that prioritizes the medical and psychosocial safety of living donors and candidates. Alliance for Paired Donation The mission of the Alliance for Paired Donation™ is to save lives by significantly reducing the wait time for a kidney transplant through kidney paired donation. National Kidney Registry The mission of the National Kidney Registry is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants in the world. A CONVERSATION CAN SAVE A LIFE. Organ Donor, Organ Transplant, Organ Donor Services, | Matching Donors This Program for Donor/Recipient Pairs with Incompatible Blood Types MatchingDonors.com has the world’s largest database of available altruistic incompatible donors.

People with kidney failure who have a willing donor (friend, family member etc…) whose blood type is not compatible may be able to take part in a Paired Kidney Exchange Program. How it works is, if a donor and patient can be found who have the opposite blood type incompatibility, kidneys can be exchanged between the two pairs and two compatible live donor transplants are possible. Using MatchingDonors.com to find a direct altruistic donor is usually the easiest way to find a donor, but we want you to have as many options as possible to find your match so we are now also offering, at no additional charge, our paired exchange program where you can also search for a suitable exchange pair. MatchingDonors.com now has the world’s largest database of available altruistic incompatible donors. The more donors and patients in the database the greater the chance of identifying an exchange pair. We have new donors signing up about just about everyday willing to be involved in an incompatible paired exchange. Some of these donors have a patient already associated with them and some are willing to help ant patient in a paired exchange. We have had a number of patients that have found an incompatible donor who then became their donor for a kidney exchange program.

So, with MatchingDonors.com you don’t even have to bring in your own incompatible donor (friend or family member) you can find an altruistic incompatible donor that would be willing to donate to some else to save your life. Cialis is a life-saving medicine to treat the erectile dysfunction. Buy Cialis online , the basic component of this medicine is Tadalafil that expands the blood vessels. It provides you with a healthy erection that can last up to 36 hours. Kidney Paired Donation is a program which assists donor/patient pairs who are incompatible or poorly matched with each other to find another donor/patient pair(s) with whom they can exchange kidneys to enable a more favorable compatibility and allow a transplant to take place. Every donor and patient who is interested in exchanging kidneys is entered into the MatchingDonors.com database with their blood type along with their HLA typing- if available. The matching search agent is run on a daily basis, and potential matches are identified along with your regular search agent results list. When a potential incompatible pair is identified both the donor and patient will receive a tissue typing kit in the mail with blood tubes in it. You will then get a blood drawn at your doctor’s office and sent back to the transplant center.

There will be instructions with the kit that will tell you that a potential exchange pair has been identified and that you should have your blood drawn on the date specified in the letter. This blood is used to crossmatch you with the exchange donor/ patient. Every donor is evaluated according to standard medical practice. Each donor must go through a battery of tests and consults prior to being accepted into the program. Consideration is given to a matched age (within 10 years) between donors. Patient/ donor pairs always have the option of declining offers. Blood types of the donor/patient pair. If the patient is of the ‘O’ blood type, they require an ‘O’ donor. ‘O’ donors are universal donors and can give to anyone. Therefore, the available ‘O’ donors in the KPD program are those that are unable to give to their patient because the patient is sensitized. Therefore, it will be more difficult to find a compatible donor for the sensitized patient and the blood-type incompatible ‘O’ patient. Multiple donor/patient pairs in the database. The transplant center will try to optimize the number of transplants that can take place to help as many patients as possible.

Therefore, there could be a little as 2 pairs involved to as many as 5 or more pairs involved. MatchingDonors has been involved in a number of these types of incompatible paired exchange kidney transplants. Blood Type Chart: Facts & Information on Blood Group Types - Disabled World Blood Type Chart: Facts & Information on Blood Group Types Print Published: 2012-09-28 (Rev. 2016-05-30) - Contact: Ian Langtree at Disabled World Synopsis: Information regarding blood types including charts outlining donor compatibility and childs blood group from parents blood type. About Blood Type (Group) A blood type (also called a blood group) is defined as the classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). A series of related blood types constitutes a blood group system, such as the Rh or ABO system. The frequencies of the ABO and Rh blood types vary from population to population.

Main Document "While blood types are 100% genetically inherited, the environment potentially can determine which blood types in a population will be passed on more frequently to the next generation." When a person's blood is analyzed under a microscope distinct blood differences are visible. In the early 20th century, an Austrian scientist named Karl Landsteiner classified blood according to those differences. Landsteiner observed two distinct chemical molecules present on the surface of the red blood cells . He labeled one molecule "A" and the other molecule "B". Blood Type A - If the red blood cell has only "A" molecules on it. Blood Type B - If the red blood cell has only "B" molecules on it. Blood Type AB - If the red blood cell has a mixture of both "A" & "B" molecules. Blood Type O - If the red blood cell has neither "A" or "B" molecule. Blood Type Facts: There are eight different common blood types, which are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens, which are substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the human body.

Since some antigens can trigger a patient's immune system to attack the transfused blood, safe blood transfusions depend on careful blood typing and cross-matching. There are 4 major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens (A and B) on the surface of red blood cells: Blood Group Has only B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma) AB Has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma) O Has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma) In addition to the A and B antigens, there is a third antigen called the Rh factor, which can be either present (+) or absent ( - ). In general, Rh negative blood is given to Rh-negative patients, and Rh positive blood or Rh negative blood may be given to Rh positive patients. The universal red cell donor has Type O negative blood type. The universal plasma donor has Type AB positive blood type. Donating Blood by Compatible Type: Blood types are very important when a blood transfusion is necessary. In a blood transfusion, a patient must receive a blood type compatible with his or her own blood type.

If the blood types are not compatible, red blood cells will clump together, making clots that can block blood vessels and cause death. If two different blood types are mixed together, the blood cells may begin to clump together in the blood vessels, causing a potentially fatal situation. Therefore, it is important that blood types be matched before blood transfusions take place. In an emergency, type O blood can be given because it is most likely to be accepted by all blood types. However, there is still a risk involved. Blood Type AB- A- B- O- Finding Out Your Blood Type: It is easy and inexpensive to determine a person's ABO type from a few drops of blood. A serum containing anti-A antibodies is mixed with some of the blood. Another serum with anti-B antibodies is mixed with the remaining sample. Whether or not agglutination occurs in either sample indicates the ABO type. It is a simple process of elimination of the possibilities. For instance, if an individual's blood sample is agglutinated by the anti-A antibody, but not the anti-B antibody, it means that the A antigen is present but not the B antigen. Therefore, the blood type is A. Blood type is inherited, just like eye color.

This chart shows the possible blood type of a child according to their parents blood group: Parent 1 B AB Note: In most cases, blood typing is not conclusive when attempting to determine, include or exclude an individual as the parent of a child or children. While blood types are 100% genetically inherited, the environment potentially can determine which blood types in a population will be passed on more frequently to the next generation. It does this through natural selection. Specific ABO blood types are thought to be linked with increased or decreased susceptibility to particular diseases. What Does Blood Group RH Factor Mean RH factor in blood types stands for "Rhesus Factor". Blood tests were performed on Rhesus monkeys and the Rh+ and Rh- factors were isolated. An antigen found in the red blood cells of most people: those who have Rh factor are said to be Rh positive (Rh+), while those who do not are Rh negative (Rh-). What about the meaning of RHD- Rh blood group, D antigen .

The rhesus complex is not just one antigen, but several, when someone is told to be Rh+, it usually refers to the D antigen (one of the components of the Rh complex), because it's the most common, and the easiest to identify, however it's not the only one. What is the Rarest Blood Type According to the American Red Cross the rarest is AB(-), present in 1% of the Caucasians, in African Americans it is even rarer. B(-) and O(-) are also very rare, each accounting for less than 5% of the world's population. Some people with rare blood types bank their own blood in advance of surgical procedures to ensure that blood is available to them. Blood Type Diet: The Eat Right for Your Type diet encourages people to eat certain foods and avoid others based on their blood type A, B, AB, or O. The Diet is Based on: Type A ("for agrarian") - Flourishes on vegetarian diets, "the inheritance of their more settled and less warlike farmer ancestors," says D'Adamo. The type A diet contains soy proteins, grains, and organic vegetables and encourages gentle exercise.

Type B - The nomadic blood type B has a tolerant digestive system and can enjoy low-fat dairy, meat, and produce but, among other things, should avoid wheat, corn, and lentils, D'Adamo says. If you're type B, it's recommended you exercise moderately. Type O ("for old," as in humanity's oldest blood line) - Your digestive tract retains the memory of ancient times, says D'Adamo, so your metabolism will benefit from lean meats, poultry, and fish. You're advised to restrict grains, breads, and legumes, and to enjoy vigorous exercise. Type AB - Has a sensitive digestive tract and should avoid chicken, beef, and pork but enjoy seafood, tofu, dairy, and most produce. The fitness regimen for ABs is calming exercises. NOTE: Critics cite a lack of published evidence backing D'Adamo's blood type-based diet plan. Blood Type and Your Personality: Legend has it that blood type tells about personality. In Japan, it's widely believed that blood groups predict personality traits - from temperament to compatibility, to what kind of lover you are to what type of foods you should be eating.

For instance: Type A is calm and trustworthy; Type B is creative and excitable; Type AB is thoughtful and emotional; Type O is a confident leader. Printable Blood Group/Type Charts: Printable chart showing compatible blood types for receiving blood transfusions Printable chart showing possible blood type of a child according to their parents blood group Blood & Heart Awareness The red ribbon raises awareness of blood and heart diseases including Cardiovascular Disease, Congenital Heart Defects, Hemophilia, Hypertension, Lymphoma, and other conditions relating to the heart and human blood. Other awareness dates Facts: Blood Type A total of 35 human blood group systems are now recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). With regard to transfusions of packed red blood cells, individuals with type O Rh D negative blood are often called universal donors, and those with type AB Rh D positive blood are called universal recipients. Many pregnant women carry a fetus with a blood type which is different from their own, which is not a problem A popular belief in Japan is that a person's ABO blood type is predictive of their personality, character, and compatibility with others.

Rarest Blood Type: A blood type is considered rare if fewer than 1 in 1,000 people have them. One of the rarest blood types in the world is Rh-null, which lack any antigens in the Rh system. There are only 9 active donors in the community of rare blood donors that have Rh-null blood. Rh-null is considered a universal blood for anyone with a rare blood type within the Rh system. However, anyone who has Rh-null blood can only receive Rh-null blood in a transfusion. Statistics: Blood Group Your body carries around four to six liters (7 to 10.5 pints) of blood. About 5 million Americans need blood transfusions every year. Receiving blood from the wrong ABO group can be life threatening. Almost half (48%) of the UK population has blood group O, making this the most common blood group. Why isn't O negative blood type considered a universal donor anymore? - Quora Quora Practically in emergencies its still considered to be a universal donor. However theoretically its not so as: 1.Bombay blood group: These people can't accept o-ve blood as they have ant-H antibodies. (Also anti-A and anti-B).

Since they lack all antigens of the ABO system, they are the true universal donors. But their numbers are too small. 2.Rarely two blood groups are completely compatible. Most of the time the major antigen- antibodies are crossmatched and the minor ones ignored. But reactions are very mild in case of minor incompatibility and so these are overlooked. As we advance in transfusion medicine it becomes clearer and clearer that o is not the universal donor.... Written Jan 18, 2016 Though widely considered in today's modern world to be the universal donor : 1. The O negative (-) blood type is unable to donate to those with unusual blood types such as the Bombay Blood Group. This is due to the presence of the H-antibody in the blood; as a result, the blood is unable to accept it. However, these rare blood groups due to the absence of certain prominent antigens are able to donate to other blood groups including the 4 main primary categories (A, AB, B, O). 2. Due to the overwhelming majority of people that display the antigens of the A, B or O blood in their blood, rare blood types are omitted from the scale despite their presence.

However, there are the presence of numerous antigens such as the H antigen and the P antigen. 3. The true universal donor is the Rh null blood. With only 43 people able to procure this blood in the recent past, it is the most rare blood group. Furthermore, it is the only blood group capable of donating to even the rare blood groups. This is due to the absence of majority of antigens in the blood. 934 Views Related Questions Blood Types: ABO System, Rh System, and Minor Blood Types Credits Your blood is typed, or classified, according to the presence or absence of certain markers ( antigens ) found on red blood cells and in the plasma that allow your body to recognize blood as its own. If another blood type is introduced, your immune system recognizes it as foreign and attacks it, resulting in a transfusion reaction. ABO blood type system The ABO system consists of A, B, AB, and O blood types. People with type A have antibodies in the blood against type B. People with type B have antibodies in the blood against type A. People with AB have no anti-A or anti-B antibodies. People with type O have both anti-A and anti-B antibodies.

People with type AB blood are called universal recipients, because they can receive any of the ABO types. People with type O blood are called universal donors, because their blood can be given to people with any of the ABO types. Mismatches with the ABO and Rh blood types are responsible for the most serious, sometimes life-threatening, transfusion reactions. But these types of reactions are rare. For every 1 million units of blood transfused, getting the wrong blood type happens, at the most, 4 times. 1 Transfusion with the wrong blood type can cause a severe reaction that may be life-threatening. 2 Rh system The Rh system classifies blood as Rh-positive or Rh-negative, based on the presence or absence of Rh antibodies in the blood. People with Rh-positive blood can receive Rh-negative blood, but people with Rh-negative blood will have a transfusion reaction if they receive Rh-positive blood. Transfusion reactions caused by mismatched Rh blood types can be serious. Minor blood types There are over 100 other blood subtypes. Most have little or no effect on blood transfusions, but a few of them may be the main causes of mild transfusion reactions.

Mild transfusion reactions are frightening, but they are rarely life-threatening when treated quickly. WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.© 1995-2015 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Next Article Structural Biochemistry/Carbohydrates/Blood Type - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Structural Biochemistry/Carbohydrates/Blood Type - A type of complicated and living tissue which holds numerous proteins and cell types. - Blood is important in our bodies due to its functions: defend, regulate, and transport. Structure[ edit ] Human blood groups depends on the functioning of glycosyltransferases, enzymes that catalyze the formation of glycosidic bond between monosaccharides . Specific oligosaccharide antigens attach to the proteins and lipids on the surface of erythrocytes. Those attached to proteins have a serine or threonine residue or ceramide lipid intermediate.

The most basic oligosaccharide attached is called the O antigen (also referred to as the H antigen). This O antigen is the base oligosaccharide found in all three blood types AB, A, and B. The O antigen is of the form (—Lipid—Glucose—Galactose—N-acetylglucosamine—Galactose—Fucose). Blood type O only has the O antigen attached to the red blood cells. Blood type A is formed through the addition of the A antigen, which has N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) glycosidically bonded to the O antigen. Similarly for blood type B, the B antigen has an additional galactose forming a glycosidic bond to the O antigen. In both the A and B blood types, the new antigen forms an α-1,3 linkage to the outermost galactose component of the O antigen through the help of glycosyltransferases. GalNAc transferase adds the extra N-acetylgalactosamine for the A antigen while Gal transferase adds the extra galactose for the B antigen.

Genes in a person’s DNA code for the specific glycosyltransferases to allow for the addition of antigens A and/or B to the O antigen. If a person’s genes do not allow for the coding of type A or B transferase, then that person will have type O blood. The genes that code for GalNAc and Gal transferases are exact, but for three amino acids. This strong similarity between the two enzymes shows they are related through divergent evolution. Functionality[ edit ] The importance of glycosyltransferases is most prominent when a person needs a blood transfusion. Type O blood can be given to anyone because everyone has the ability to recognize the O antigen. However, a person with type A or type O blood cannot recognize the B antigen while another with type B or O blood cannot recognize the A antigen. Antibodies against the B and A antigens are also present in the serum of one’s blood for those who lack the B and A antigens, respectively. Therefore, if a person were transfused with the wrong type of blood, one’s immune system will see the antigen as foreign, therefore attacking those transfused red blood cells.

It is because of this process that people with type AB blood can accept transfusions of any blood type, since they have all three antigens already present in their bodies. It should be noted that in reality, transfusions are complicated by the Rhesus factor. Proteins & Blood Types[ edit ] We can categorize our blood types into 4 groups: A, B, AB, & O These four groups are considered to be the four phenotypes that one may posses. These four phenotypes can produce six different genotypes that each person can be: AA, AO, BB, BO, AB, and OO. On the surface of red blood cells, there are 2 types of antigen: A & B (each type has its own properties) If a blood cell is type A, the surface of the cell contains Antigens for type A and the body will produce antibodies for type B and vice versa for type B. Type AB contains both antigens on the surface and has neither antibodies. Blood type O has no antigens and thus have both A and B antibodies in its system. In this regard, blood type O may be the universal donor and blood type AB is the universal recipient.

We can also look at the property of Rh protein whether it's absence or presence in our blood. - If a blood type has Rh protein, then it is positive. - If a blood type does not have Rh protein, then it is negative. - For example, blood type "B negative" means that the person has type B without Rh protein on the surface of the red blood cells. The RH factor is more important if the mother is to have a second child. This is because if the mother is RH - and her first child is RH + (has present of RH protein), the mother will produce antibodies (specific immunogenic proteins) for the RH protein. This will not affect the first child since the mother will only produce this antibody after the child is born. However, if the mother is to have a second child with an RH+ trait as well, the antibodies in the mother will cross the placenta and attack the child. This is because the antibodies for the RH protein are specific proteins called memory cells that are small enough to pass the placenta. This will result in a miscarriage. One way around this is to give the mother Rhogam after birth.

This is a synthetic protein antibody that will destroy the left over fetal cells before it has a chance to interact with the mother's immune system. This inhibit protein antibody production towards the RH factor in the mother and will allow subsequent RH+ children to be born from that mother. Mixing Different Blood Types[ edit ] Our body generates antigens or antibodies to protect us from the unfamiliar molecules. They will then recognize this difference and clash with the molecules to get rid of them. For blood transfusion, it is very important to make sure that both the recipient and the donor match in blood type. - If surface molecules from the donor blood cells signals any difference than the recipient's, then the antibodies from the recipient’s blood will consider it as foreign. - The immune response will take place if there is a difference in blood type, which results in blood clots in the vessels. Universal Donors and Universal Recipients Blood type O is the universal donors due to its versatility of having no molecules on the red blood cell surfaces, which will not trigger any immune response. Therefore type O blood can be donated to any of the other four blood types earning its name. Blood type AB is the universal recipients due to its lack of antibodies that recognize type A or B surface molecules.

AB can receive blood from any of the other four blood types earning its name as the universal receiver. AB however also tends to be the most rare blood type out of the four. AB+ is the is the true universal receiver able to receive all types of blood regardless of type and Rh antigen. However O- is only compatible with itself but able to donate to everyone. The exception to these rules are people with the hh antigen system also called the Bombay blood type. These individuals cannot express the H antigen which is present in group O. They cannot make A antigen or B antigen since they are made from the H antigen. Therefore the people who have this blood type can donate to any other member of any blood type but can only receive blood from other Bombay blood type individuals. However this blood type is extremely rare occurring in only .0004% of the population. Therefore people with this blood type are at a great risk in finding compatible blood for a blood transfusion. Rhesus Antigen Not only do the different blood types have to be considered due to the existence of antigens but the rhesus blood group system is secondly important after the ABO system of blood type antigens.

The most important antigen from the five main rhesus antigens is RhD since it is the most immunogenic. It is common for RhD negative people to have no anti-RhD IgG or IgM antibodies. The Rhesus antigen is usually depicted by a plus or a negative after the type of blood type. Rh positive is more prevalent than Rh negative blood types. Especially in East Asia the percentage of Rh negative people are extremely rare. Since people with Rh negative blood type cannot receive blood from Rh positive special care must be taken when receiving blood transfusions. Testing for Rhesus Antigen[ edit ] Test can be carried out to determine whether one's blood contains the Rh antigen. Since Rh factors are antigens there are corresponding antibodies that can be used to bind. Rh antibodies are commonly used to bind to such antigens in the blood. The structure of the antibody is oriented in a fashion so that there are two main chains, a heavy chain and light chain. The two heavy chains are located on the inner side of the antibody while the light chains are located on the outer.

The domains are exactly the same pertaining to all antibodies except for the last domain the the N terminus of both the heavy and light chain located on each side of the antibody. It is the variable domain that is different from antibody to antibody and contains differential amino acid sequences with their constituent residues that provide complementarity in the binding site to the specific substrate. If Rh antibodies are mixed with ones blood and aggregation occurs, then the person would be Rh positive, if no aggregation occurs, then the person is Rh negative. Aggregation occurs due to the antibody-substrate complex that forms when the Rh antigen locks into the binding site of the antibody. Red Blood Cells Vs Blood Plasma Like red blood cell compatibility recipients can receive blood plasma from the same blood type. However unlike with red blood cells the plasma has a converse compatibility. Blood type O can receive plasma from every other blood type while blood type AB can donate blood plasma to any blood type. Blood Types Genetics[ edit ] Blood types A & B co-dominate Blood type O is recessive We can see the patterns of the possible combination of alleles versus the blood types: AB = blood type AB Blood Transfusions Blood Transfusions Transfusiones de sangre Blood transfusions save lives every day.

Hospitals use blood transfusions to help people who are injured, having surgery, getting cancer treatments, or being treated for other diseases that affect the blood, like sickle cell anemia . In fact, about 5 million people each year in the United States get blood transfusions. A Bit About Blood As blood moves throughout the body, it carries oxygen and nutrients to all the places they're needed. Blood also collects waste products, like carbon dioxide, and takes them to the organs responsible for making sure wastes leave the body. Blood is a mixture of cells and liquid. Each has a specific job: Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues and remove carbon dioxide. Red blood cells make up about 40%–45% of a person's blood and live for 120 days. White blood cells are part of the immune system, and its main defense against infection. White blood cells make up less than 1% of a person's blood. Platelets are cell fragments that help blood clot, which helps to prevent and control bleeding. A person's blood has about 1 platelet for every 20 red blood cells.

Plasma is a pale yellow liquid mixture of water, proteins, electrolytes, carbohydrates, cholesterol, hormones, and vitamins. About 55% of our blood is plasma. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow (a spongy material inside many of the bones in the body). A full-grown adult has about 10 pints of blood (almost 5 liters) in his or her body. continue What Is a Blood Transfusion? A transfusion is a simple medical procedure that doctors use to make up for a loss of blood — or for any part of the blood, such as red blood cells or platelets. A person usually gets a blood transfusion through an intravenous line, a tiny tube that is inserted into a vein with a small needle. The whole process takes about 1 to 4 hours, depending on how much blood is needed. Blood from a donor needs to match the blood type of the person receiving it. There are eight main blood types: O positive AB positive AB negative In emergencies, there are exceptions to the rule that the donor's blood type must match the recipient's exactly. Blood type O negative is the only type of blood that people of all other blood types can receive.

Medical teams use it in situations when patients need a transfusion but their blood type is unknown. Because of this, O negative donors are called "universal donors." People who have type AB blood are called "universal recipients" because they can safely receive any type of blood. A blood transfusion usually isn't whole blood — it could be any one of the blood's components. For example, chemotherapy can affect how bone marrow makes new blood cells. So some people getting treatment for cancer might need a transfusion of red blood cells or platelets. Other people might need plasma or only certain parts of plasma. People who have hemophilia , a disease that affects the blood's ability to clot, need plasma or the clotting factors contained in plasma to help their blood clot and prevent internal bleeding. previous continue Where Does the Blood Come From? In the United States, the blood supply for transfusions comes from people who volunteer to donate their blood . Donors give blood at local blood banks, at community centers during blood drives, or through the American Red Cross. When people know they are going to have an operation that might include a blood transfusion, they may choose to receive blood from one of several different places.

Most patients choose to receive blood from the donated supply, but some decide to use their own blood. Providing your own blood before surgery is called autologous (pronounced: aw-TAHL-uh-gus) blood donation. Another option for blood transfusions is called directed donation. This is when a family member or friend donates blood specifically to be used by a designated patient. For directed donation, the donor must have a blood type that is compatible with the recipient's. He or she must also meet all the requirements of a regular volunteer blood donor. There is no medical or scientific evidence that blood from directed donors is safer or better than blood from volunteer donors. How Safe Is Donated Blood? Some people worry about getting diseases from infected blood, but the United States has one of the safest blood supplies in the world. Many organizations, including community blood banks and the federal government, work hard to ensure that the blood supply is safe. All blood donors must provide a detailed history, including recent travel, infections, medicines, and health problems. In addition, the American Red Cross and other donation groups test donated blood for viruses like HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and West Nile virus.

Since blood can also be infected with bacteria or parasites, some blood components also get tested for these. If any of these things are found, the blood is destroyed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates U.S. blood banks. All blood centers must pass regular inspections in order to continue their operations. previous continue Do People Get Sick From Transfusions? Most people's bodies handle blood transfusions very well. But, like any medical procedure, there are some risks, including: Fever. Patients can have a fever with a blood transfusion, sometimes along with chills, a headache, or nausea. These symptoms can be caused by a reaction between the recipient's immune system and immune cells in the donor blood. When this happens, doctors will stop the transfusion and give the patient fever-reducing medicine. When the patient's temperature is back to normal, the transfusion usually can continue. Allergic reaction. Allergic reactions to blood transfusions (like hives or itching) happen because of a reaction between the recipient's immune system and proteins in the donated blood. In a few rare cases, an allergic reaction can be severe (a condition called anaphylaxis ).

Stopping the transfusion and giving the patient medications for allergy, including antihistamines and steroids, can treat these reactions. If the reaction is mild, the transfusion can start again. If it is more serious, doctors may have to take other measures before the patient can be given a transfusion again. Hemolytic reaction. A hemolytic (pronounced: hee-muh-LIH-tik) reaction can be life-threatening. It happens when the patient's blood and the donated blood do not match. When the types don't match, the recipient's immune system attacks the red blood cells in the donated blood and destroys them. (The word hemolysis [pronounced: heh-MOL-uh-sis] means the destruction of red blood cells.) If a hemolytic reaction happens, doctors stop the transfusion and treat the symptoms. Hemolytic reaction is very rare, though, as health care professionals take many precautions to confirm a patient's and donor's blood are compatible before giving a transfusion. In almost every situation, the benefits of having a blood transfusion far outweigh the risks. The Red Cross estimates that 15% of all blood donors in the United States are high school or college students.

If you are eligible and wish to donate blood, contact your local blood bank or the American Red Cross for more information on what's involved. You could save someone's life. Your AB+ Blood is Important - Donate Blood - The Blood Connection Donate Blood - The Blood Connection Home > About Blood > Blood Education > Blood Types > Your AB+ Blood is Important AB Positive As an AB blood donor, you have a unique opportunity to enhance your generous “gift of life”. People with AB Negative (.6% of the population) and AB Positive (3.4%) are potential universal plasma donors. You may not know, but there is a special need for AB Plasma. In addition to being the most rare blood type, AB Plasma is universal and can be used for all patients regardless of their blood type. Plasma is used to treat clotting disorders, burn, and shock victims. Your plasma donation is especially important to maintaining sufficient supplies for our community, and with regular and frequent plasma donations you’ll be helping hundreds of patients in our area. Almost anyone who is a whole blood donor can donate plasma. You are eligible if you are at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health.

You can donate plasma every 28 days. Thank you for being a blood donor, and please consider donating plasma. What’s Your Type? O+ 1 in 3 37.4% A+ 1 in 3 35.7% B+ 1 in 12 8.5% AB+ 1 in 29 3.4% O- 1 in 15 6.6% A- 1 in 16 6.3% B- 1 in 67 1.5% AB- 1 in 167 .6% Source: America’s Blood Centers Compatible Blood Types O+ can receive O+, O- A- can receive A-, O- A+ can receive A+, A-, O+, O- B- can receive B-, O- B+ can receive B+, B-, O+, O- AB- can receive AB-, B-, A-, O- AB+ can receive AB+, AB-, B+, B-, A+, A-, O+, O- Compatible Plasma Types O can receive O, A, B, AB A can receive A, AB B can receive B, AB AB can receive AB

Question: In the world of blood donations, O- types are considered to be universal donors (blood compatible with all types). What blood type is considered to be a universal recipient (can accept any blood type)?
Answer: AB+